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A. Sidney Lovett papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 1089

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, sermons, writings, photographs, printed material and miscellanea detailing the professional career and personal life of Sidney Lovett, a clergyman and chaplain at Yale University. Lovett's activities as a minister in Boston (1919-1932), chaplain at Yale (1932-1958), member of many university organizations and committees, including the Yale Faculty Committee for Receiving Oxford and Cambridge Children and Yale-in-China, pastor of the Church of Christ in Yale, master of Pierson college, community worker in New Haven, Connecticut, and professor of biblical literature, are documented in the papers. General correspondence files contain letters to and from Lovett, and include exchanges with numerous religious figures in academic positions, Yale University officials and employees, and Yale students and alumni. Correspondence and other materials relating to the Yale Faculty Committee for Receiving Oxford and Cambridge Children detail the efforts of that body to transport British children to the United States during World War II. Yale-in-China files detail Lovett's role as executive vice-president of that body. Sermons include printed and manuscript versions of many of Lovett's religious addresses, from 1914-1977, and writings include various other addresses, essays, funeral services and speeches.

The Lovett Papers are arranged in 79 boxes, totalling 29.25 linear feet, The papers are organized in five series: I. CORRESPONDENCE, 1889-1979; II. YALE FACULTY COMMITTEE FOR RECEIVING OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CHILDREN, 1940-1948; III. YALE-IN-CHINA, 1933-1979; IV. SERMONS, 1914-1937; V. WRITINGS AND MISCELLANEA, 1900-1979. The Lovett Papers were donated by Richard and Sidney Lovett, and Eugenia West Lovett, from 1981-1983.

SERIES I, CORRESPONDENCE, 1889-1979, contains Lovett's personal and professional correspondence. His extensive role in the religious and academic operations of Yale University is documented through letters to and from James Rowland Angell, Henry Sloane Coffin, Alfred Whitney Griswold, Carl Albert Lohman, Elmore McNeil McKee, Charles Seymour, Norman Sydney Buck, Irving S. Fisher, Chauncey W. Goodrich, Wilmarth Sheldon Lewis, Addison Grant Noble, Richard Carter Nyman, and many others. Many letters with Yale University students and alumni, frequently addressed to "Uncle Sid," are also arranged in this series. Correspondence relating to such university organizations and topics as the Battell Chapel Memorial Fund, Berkeley Association, Church of Christ in Yale University, Dwight Hall, Pierson College, the academic courses "Religion 21" and "Religion 22," the religious affiliations of students, university preaching schedules, the Yale Alumni Fund, and the Yale University Christian Mission are organized in this series.

Sidney Lovett's activities outside the Yale University community include membership and participation in several New Haven area organizations as well as many influential national organizations. Correspondence detailing his contributions to the Abbott Academy (Andover, Mass.), Austin Riggs Foundation, Family Service of New Haven, the Fellowship of Reconciliation, George Junior Republic Association, Hopkins Grammar School, Interfaith Education Council, the New Haven Commission on Equal Opportunities, the Ulysses S. Grant Foundation, and the World Student Service Fund, is organized in this series. Correspondence with many religious figures, university and college chaplains, and family members are also arranged here.

SERIES II, YALE FACULTY COMMITTEE FOR RECEIVING OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE CHILDREN, 1940-1948, contains correspondence and other material detailing Lovett's service as chairman, of this organization. The organizational and logistical problems of transferring the young children of oxford and Cambridge University faculty members to the United States during World War II, and the participation of the Yale University community in this effort, are documented.

SERIES III, YALE-IN-CHINA, 1933-1979, contains correspondence and material relating to Lovett's service as executive vice-president of this organization, now known as Yale-China Association. Lovett's correspondence is supplemented by printed material and reports.

SERIES IV, SERMONS, 1914-1977, contains many items Lovett prepared as minister of the Mount Vernon Congregational Church (Boston, Mass.), from 1920-1932; for the Northfield League, 1924-1925; as chaplain of Yale University, 1932-1977; and for other occassions, 1914-1972. These sermons include printed and manuscript versions, and focus on a wide range of religious topics.

SERIES V, WRITINGS AND MISCELLANEA, 1900-1979, contains several types of material, including writings, photographs, printed material, memorabilia, and audio tapes and films. Lovett's writings include short addresses prepared for baccalaureate services, commencement services, and prayers. Additional writings include essays, lectures, notebooks, and speeches.

Dates

  • 1889-1979

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research. Box 37, student gradebooks (1939-1949) are restricted until January 1, 2024 as established by Yale Corporation regulations.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright status for collection materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Richard and Sidney Lovett, and Eugenia West Lovett, 1981-1983.

Arrangement

Arranged in five series: I. General Correspondence, 1889-1979. II. Yale Faculty Committee for Receiving Oxford and Cambridge Children, 1940-1948. III. Yale-in-China, 1933-1979. IV. Sermons, 1914-1977. V. Writings and Miscellanea, 1900-1979.

Extent

29.25 Linear Feet (79 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/mssa.ms.1089

Abstract

Correspondence, sermons, writings, photographs, printed material and miscellanea detailing the professional career and personal life of Sidney Lovett, a clergyman and chaplain at Yale University. Lovett's activities as a minister in Boston (1919-1932), chaplain at Yale (1932-1958), member of many university organizations and committees, including the Yale Faculty Committee for Receiving Oxford and Cambridge Children and Yale-in-China, pastor of the Church of Christ in Yale, master of Pierson College, community worker in New Haven, Connecticut and professor of biblical literature, are documented in the papers. General correspondence files contain letters to and from Lovett, and include exchanges with numerous religious figures in academic positions, Yale University officials and employees, and Yale students and alumni. Correspondence and other materials relating to the Yale Faculty Committee for Receiving Oxford and Cambridge Children detail the efforts of that body to transport British children to the United States during World War II. Yale-in-China files detail Lovett's role as executive vice-president of that body. Sermons include printed and manuscript versions of many of Lovett's religious addresses, from 1914-1977, and writings include various other addresses, essays, funeral services and speeches.

Biographical / Historical

Augustus Sidney Lovett, Jr. was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1890. He received his B.A. degree from Yale in 1913, and the B.D. degree from Union Theological Seminary in New York in 1917. From 1919-1932, Lovett served as minister of the Mount Vernon Congregational Church in Boston. In 1932 he was appointed chaplain of Yale University, a position he held until retirement in 1958. Lovett was appointed executive vice-president of Yale-in-China, now known as Yale-China, in 1959. He died in New Haven, Connecticut, on April 3, 1979.

Processing Information

This finding aid was revised in 2021 to address outdated or harmful descriptive language relating to Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Previous versions of this finding aid may be available. Please contact Yale University Library Manuscripts and Archives for details. If you have questions or comments about these revisions, please contact Yale University Library Manuscripts and Archives or the Archival and Manuscript Description Committee. For more information on reparative archival description at Yale, see Yale’s Statement on Harmful Language in Archival Description.

Title
Guide to the A. Sidney Lovett Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
compiled by William E. Brown, Jr.
Date
April 1984
Description rules
Finding Aid Created In Accordance With Manuscripts And Archives Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Revision Statements

  • May 2021: Finding aid revised to replace outdated or harmful descriptive language. See the processing note for more information.

Part of the Manuscripts and Archives Repository

Contact:
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